Detachable connection for electric cables



Dec. 28, 1948. J. w. NELSON 2,457,593

DETACHABLE CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC CABLES Filed Nov. s, 1944 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 pgirAcnneLg; -cQnNEoTIoN -FoRl ELEGTRIC `rmi-:amis

1.01m vit-Nason; Wickle, chi ApplicativonjNcvember 8, 1944, Serial No.'562,` 4 31 :This invention relates vto vmake-and-.break means for the current supply mains or leads-.for electrical apparatus,-wherein either -orboth mains or leadsV are provided with terminal devices adapted to be readily connected or disconnected.

One object of the invention is to prov-idein an electrical circuit for anelectricavl'appar-atus leads either one or both of which'are provided with terminal devices having improvedY detachable means for readily Aattaching orv'detachin'g them.

`Another object of the invention v.is 'to provide, in a supply main orlead `forming 'part vof an electrical circuit, improved terminal devices-having detachably related elements, whereby the terminal devices may be readily 4.attached and detached.

Another object of the invention is to provide an Aimproved attachment for an electrical apparatus consisting 4of detachable terminal elements, one of which is mounted on or electrically c onnected with one of the terminals of the apparatus and the other cf which is fixed to vthe end of one of the current lsupply leads, arranged to facilitate the connection and disconnection thereof with the source of electrical supply With.- out disassembly and assembly of Vthe parts forming the adjacent terminal.

`Another' object of the invention is to provide improved detachable, pivotallyconnected terminal devices for the lead of an electrical circuit the connecting elements of which, When connected, are related under spring pressure and engagecam walls when moved about `their .pivotal connection, whereby the spring co-acts with the cam walls yto resist A,relative .pivotal movement between thedevices and to return them to normal end-.to-,end relation.

Another object of the invention is to .provide an improved means 4`for 7making electrical connections in anelectricalcircuit and breaking such connections without the useof tools and operationof nuts or like parts.

A further 4object .of the invention yis .to provide improvedelectrical connections for the terminals ofa lead and havinga spring operated clamping member, Wherebythe `contacting elements .of the termin-als .maybe readily engaged ,anddisengaged @ther objects of the invention willbepparent to those skilledin .theartjto which my .invention relates from the following description taken .in lconnection .with .the accompanying drawing.

Thedisclosed embodiment ,ci the invention is .Shown -inlconnectenwithapsrtahle 'type .Qi @1.6.0- .irical -arpartus Gillet-.chere .hmm-consisting 5 Clairna (Cl. 287-76) -2 l of .an electrical V.welding mechanism) i aszthe .invention is `particularly adapted for usewwhere such type of .apparatus is employed. Under some circumstances of shop practice, where the parts: to ybe welded `are .of `various .shape :and sizes, so .thatwthey .are positioned `from time to .timezn various locations in the shop, outside the .shop or at a I.remote location, .the electrical :Welding mechanism must be :wheeled vor transported..to such :locations for .each .weldingaoperationzand in some -instances the .supply :leads (cables): must `be moved .and reconnected .to other outlets; thereifore it becomes highly .desirable to .quickly vdetach ithe'fleadsromthe mechanism wheniitfis to :be'movedand attach .them .after .the .mechanism has :been located adjacent theparts to bewelded. Fig. 1.is.a I-front .or end elevation oiaportable welding .apparatus showing .leads each :provided with .t erminal `devices embodying v.my-invention.

Fig. 2'fis a sideelevation of the .devices,...parts thereof being .in section; enlarged..

Fig. .3 isza.planview. I `Eig. $4 v.is .a fragmentary planhview theterminal Ldevices Fig. A5 ,is `a .fragmentary sideelevatipn showing the mounting .of oner-ofthe innerlterminal-devices:ito'theladjacentf terminal `of the welding apparatus. n

Fig. c isa front-.view of-parts'shown infFigy. Fig.- '7 is a side-view .of -the devicesl showing? the position Ithereof when :the outer device -isis'wung into .angular relation with. respect l-to vdthe-inner device.v m

Fig. 8is1.a..plan .view of` the `parts shown1 in Fig. .7. Y

Fig. :9 islairagmentary .plan view..of one of the v.terminal .devices.

:Figs .-10 .and :11 .arabian .views .sbav/.ing .a mcdiifai @0.11.11 @i @fictif-llamen.

...In che drawings., l vlaai etes las an A.er1-tirer' .c suitable welding mechanisrnthe frontend thereof. only .being shownl as ythe construction Ylo,`f. siI1c\h appaltatuscrms .11.0 partei ,th present inven'im- The .Surgeries ,frame l@ .fer .the .Welding .nectar aismis mpunisdpn WheelSJ-b .ithe .front wheels only being shown) to provide for wheeling of the mechanism from vplace to place Yfor reasonsv al',- ready set forth. The electrical meehanismislsu'it.- ably connected Ato terminals 2,y each mounted 0n the -frame 4panel la -.by -means yof asectionalicollar Y3 y.formed '.of suitable-insulating xmaterial,` through whichV the adjacentzterminal 2 .'extends'; and .clamped to the lparlelmy ,nutsaa.. They-.end rorticnf eahterminal? .is,providedwithiscrew threalsiqrzthefantsaandasiiitablenlampins 5, 6, may be interposed at any desired place beh tween the ends of one lead preach-lead 'Ikof an electrical circuit, but in the disclosure herein one7 device (inner device 5) is ilxedly mounted direct,- ly on the adjacent terminal 2 and 4detachablyclamped thereto by the clampingelement A4. :In this arrangement, the device 5 forms an extension of the terminal 2; such arrangement Lis -ad vantageous as the device is stationarily supported and-.thereforeithe .outer devicefG :may `be readily connected" theretoland therefrom 'by the operator in a relatively quickimanner, as later set forth.' The terminal devices 5,' 6, are formed of conducting material'a'ndlmay be of any desired shapeincrosssection and length. The inner end of the terminalidevice5 is-'provided with'a flat plate'.n 5a formed with anfopening 5a'. through which the terminal'2'extends, this form of connection'servingfto provide asimple and ecient connection with the terminali;- The outer end of the device 5 is provided with a; flat plate '5b arrangedV to have face-to-face engagement with a ilatplate v6d provided on lthe outer end ofthe terminal device 6, whereby an electrical connection maybe provided betweenfthefdevices 5, 6. The "opposite end ofthe -device"6 is suitabllsrjcon nectedpto the `adjacent 'end of the' lead, 'ora flexible cable-:7 carrying the lead, theopposite end of which is connected Ito an incoming supply main or other source of current-iSupply. '1

The detachable connections-betweenthe plates 5b, 6a, consist of the following:v Sindicatesaslot formed in the plate 6a and extending'inwardly fromone side edge'thereof, its yinner 'endwall preferablyfbeing concentric to the'center'of the plateyGa.- 9 indicates an opening formed in the plate 5b, preferably disposed centrally thereof: ID indicates apin extending-through and slidably fitting the openingS and alsoextending through and'slidably flttingthe walls of the'slot 8 when the plates 5b, 6a, are related or in electrical contact. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The opposite ends of the pin I are provided with collars II, I2, the collar I I being suitably xed to the adjacent end of the pin IIJ' for movement therewith and ar`l ranged to engage and disengage' the platev 6a in the manner later setl forth. Between the collar I2 and plate 5b I provide a coiled spring I3, which normally tends to move` the pin endwise the direction tov maintain the collar II under pressure engagement. (a) with the plate 6a when the plates b, 6a, areconnected and (b) inengagement Ywith theplate 5b whenthe device 6 -is detached fromthe device 5. That end. portion of the pin IUcarrying'the collar I2 (which loosely fits thepin I0) isk provided with screw rthreads totake anut I4,-to support the collar I2 on the pin and provide for the adjustment of the tension v of thespring, whereby the pressure exerted by the latter will be adequate to provide e'icient electrical contact between the plates 5b, 6a.

As :shownjthe opposite ends' of the spring I3 abut suitabler insulating "l seatingf'elernents I 3a,

4 whereby the spring is insulated from the adjacent parts.

In operation, the pin ID is moved endwise against the tension of the spring I3-see dotted lines in Fig. 2-to release the collar II from the plate 6a. When the collar II is operated to this referred to position, the terminal device 6 may be bodily moved or swung laterally (downwardly as shown in Fig. 3)", the slotv permitting of this operation to eiect disengagement of the plate 6a from the plate 5b and detachment of the device 6 lfrom the device 5. When the device 6 is to be attached to the device 5, the pin Ii! is moved endwise against the tension of the spring I3 to displace the collar I I in spaced relation to the plate 5b,- thel device 6 is then moved laterally to project the pin il) through the slot 8 against its end wall, which operation positions the plates 5b, 6a, insuperposed relation, and then the pin is released to permit engagement of the collar I I with the plate Gafunderithe influence of the spring I3. The collar IIispreferablyvof inverted cup shape so that the pressure of 4the spring through the c01- lar f I I is uniformly exerted over a wide area of the platemg@ It will'fbe observed that the detachable connections fortheA terminalr devices may be reversed; that is, the slot 8 may be formed in the plate 5b and the pin and'associated parts mounted onthep-late 6a. f Y l Y The opposite side walls of the slot 8, adjacent its outer or open end may be Linclined loutwardly to facilitate or guide'the pin I I] thereinto whenthe devices-1.5,n 6, areftobe connected. From thefforegoing description it will be observedv that by operation ofthe pin `Ill'anol its release, attachment and detachment of the rdevices 5, 6, may be readily and quicklymadewithoutthe use of tools and screwing in and outrof nuts kor like elements.. 1 i

..While,.asnabove stated, the terminaldevices may be o f '-any. desired shape 'or form, for-the sake `otsimplicityemploy standardized parts, namelyparts usually knownas connectors.. As shown in Fig. 3 lthe opennends .of two connectors are;.welded. together (see dotted line to form the vdevice. .5 so that the extension atv one end thereof provides the plate 5a. andthe extension on its other end provides vthe plate 5b, whereas a. separate connector vserves as theterminal device 6,the extension thereniprovidingthel plate 6a and its open end servinga'sa seat for 4the free end portionof the cable 'I, which is suitably elec? trically connected to the walls of the connector. ,It will be observed thatthe form of detachable connections Vbetween lthe adjacent ends of 4the devices 5, E, provides apivotal connection therefor, so that when the devices 5, 5, are in connected relation, the device 6 may 'be swung ineither direction about vthe pinl, as shown in Fig. 8, due toa change in position of the .apparatus or cable'I'. It will alsovbe observed ythatwhenthe .device 6 is moved into angular relationto the device .5 the free ends of platesf5b,'.f6a, rideup the contiguous inclined walls 5x, 6x, asshownrlI Fig. 7,`the eifet ofv'which is to separatethe plates 5b,A 6u', inoppositionto the tensionof Athe spring Y' I3; accordingly the walls 53:, 6agtend to resist turning or swinging movement ofthe device and to re-r turn itto normal position, in ,endwise relation to the device 5. rI-lowever, `due to the factthat the plates5b, 6a and'wallsof the devices areformed of conducting material, the separationV of the plates 5b, 6a, as above described` does notaffect ihleletrial cenneciion between ihejdvices-S. I5 indicates ahandle consisting of 'alever (prefenormes erably of the th-iray classlipivotally mounted on the terminar dei/ice 5., f-'itswintermediate "portion being related to the pin I anglvimangednvhen operated tofengage-therewith andmoye it endwise against'thetension myof "the'spring I3. The handleiais pivotally mounte'd:.1on`.a shaft supported onflugs .'il5a, .whicharefweldedzon .the lowermvall ff'the'r device.5 inwardly .ofzzthefplate 5131* The handlel Izis normallyebiased .upwardly andlmaintained-.1iniengagernentwith thezpin l0 bya spring 1451;' coiled Y'around .thev shaftl'ifornthe handle' '15, oniend .ofzfthe .spring .engaging sthe device l5 and it'sotlz'er en dfengagingthe.handleal The handle bei coi/ered witha vjacltt'tfio,rmed ofirubber o'rfother insulatingmateriald :Piva-.By grasping lthe handle I5 and.pressinggipyvardlythereon the pin l0 may be movedv endwise Vto raise the collar Il when-detachment or attachment of the devices istc .be made.. .In carrying iouteither. :of @these operations, the handle I5 is operated with one hand whereas the device 6 is gripped with the other hand.

Figs. and 11 illustrate a modified form of construction consisting of terminal devices 5', 6'. The device 5' terminates ina contact plate 5b and is formed with an opening 9' for a slidable spring operated pin (not shown), whereas the device 6' terminates in a contact plate 6a' and formed with a slot 8 for the pin carried by the plate 5b', the plates 5b', 6a', being adapted to be connected and disconnected as already set forth with respect to the devices 5, 6, and their contact plates 5b, 6a. In this modication, the opposed faces oi the plates 5b', 6a', are provided with interlocking elements, preferably consisting of one or more embossments on each plate, those on one plate extending upwardly and those on the other plate forming recesses or depressions, each adapted to receive one of the upwardly extending embossments when the plates 5b', 6a', are in connected relation. In the arrangement shown, the plate 5b is embossed to provide two upwardly extending elements I8 and two recesses i9, whereas the plate 6a' is embossed to provide two recesses I8 to receive the elements I8 and two upwardly extending elements I9' which fit into the recesses I9. The sets of elements |8-I8 and IB--IS are normally held in engagement by the spring for the pin and tend to prevent disengagement of the plate Ba from the plate 5b' due to a blow thereon resulting accidentally. A's the surface of each element i8, I9', is convex and of slight elevation, undue movement of the pin is not required when the plates 5b', Ga', are to be related in face-to-face relation or separated.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

l. In an electrical circuit, the combination of a pair of terminal devices provided with electrical contact elements adapted to be detachably connected together, each of said elements having a contact face for intimate engagement with the complemental face of the other element when so connected, one of the elements having a slot eX- tending to and opening at one side of such element, and the other element being provided with an aperture registrable with a portion of said slot, an axially slidable pin mounted in said aperture fand arranged vto rv'-be entered finto sai-d- Yslot when theY elements are to' be connectedtogether, a collar mounted on eachiend of said pin', and 4a spring :disposed between oney of said `collarsland the apertured element and yieldably urging .the pin 'endwisein Vone direction.' to Aengage 4thefother coll ar nwithf' the Aslotted :element Sand pressural'ly maintain intimate .electricalcontact between `said complemental facesoi.; the elements'when they arecorinected,v the pin-.being movable in .theloppof site .direction against thefaction .of the spring .to disengagefsaidaotherlcollar from the -slotted vele-x ment-whenrtheuconnection isto ybegbroglren. .g

. 2.- dln "ian, `electrical circuit,- .the ycombination of a .pair-tof terminal .devices provided withlcomplementary contact elements-arranged to. be .detachf ablyLz-connected together face..t'o.iace,f.one .foi said elementsrbeingform'ed'with azslotopening at one side thereo'izand -the .iother'kelementftbeing :formed with an aperture adapted to register with'fa .porition'lofffsaidl slot, thediameter of the aperture and the width oi the slot being substantially equal, a pin of uniform diameter throughout slidably mounted in said aperture and arranged to be entered into said slot when the elements are to be connected together, a collar mounted on each end of said pin, a spring surrounding the pin between the apertured element and one oi said collars and normally tending to move the pin endwise to engage the other collar with said apertured element, and a handle pivotally mounted on one of said devices and engageable with the pin to move the latter against the action of said spring to disengage said other collar from the apertured element to permit entry of the pin into the slot of the other element, whereby upon release of the handle the elements may be maintained in pressural face-to-face contact between said other collar and spring.

3. In an electrical circuit, the combination of a pair of terminal devices provided with complementary contact elements arranged to be detachably connected together face-to-face, one of said elements being formed with a slot opening at one side thereof and the other element being formed with an aperture adapted to register with a portion of said slot, a pin slidably mounted in said aperture and arranged to be entered into said slot when the elements are to be connected together, a collar mounted on each end oi said pin, a spring surrounding the pin between the apertured element and one of said collars, normally tending to move the pin endwise to engage the other collar with said apertured element, a handle pivotally mounted on one of said devices and engageable with the pin to move the latter against the action of the spring to disengage said other collar from the apertured element to permit entry of the pin into the slot of the other element, whereby upon release of the handle the elements may be maintained in pressural face-to-face contact between said other collar and spring, and a resilient connection between said device and handle holding the latter in engagement with the pin.

4. In an electrical circuit, the combination of a pair of terminal devices for one lead of the circuit, each device consisting of a contact plate adapted to be detachably related face-to-face with the plate of the other device and a contiguous cam wall arranged to be engaged by the outer end of the plate of the other device when one device is moved into angular relation to the other device, one of said plates being formed with a slot open at one side thereof and the other plate being formed with an opening, a pin slidably :neunten inrsaid'opening and arranged to be in: serted-into saidgslot Whensaidjplates are to be connected'togetherand operate asa pivot forsaid plates when the latter are connected inf face-toface relation, acollaron one en d of said p ina spring between the opposite end of said ypin and the adjacent contact plate and normally tending to move said pin endwise and said collarV intot engagement with said plate and to permit move--A ment of thepin and collar endwise in the opposite direction. away from? said plate, whereby said pin may be inserted into said slot in the otherkgplate and the plates engaged under pressure by release of said pin, said spring being arranged to cof-act with said cam. Walls to resist relative pivot movement of said plates. 1 f 5. The combination stated in claim 1, wherein the contact facesof the respective contact ele ments are provided with mating depressions and projections.

v JOHN W. NELSON. o

Umm:

n s;` REEERENQES 

